Toronto Review - 'Anastasia' The Touring Company at The Ed Mirvish Theatre
Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
William Shakespeare had written in ‘The Merchant of Venice’: “All that glisters is not gold; Often have you heard that told.”
I couldn’t help but think of this statement as it aptly describes my thought when I left the opening night performance of the touring production of ‘Anastasia’ now onstage at The Ed Mirvish Theatre.
NBC TV billed ‘Anastasia’ as A SERIOUS HIT in its review of the original Broadway production. I’m puzzled by this as I didn’t experience the WOW factor that some people have told me who have seen the production.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and Book by Terrence McNally, ‘Anastasia (based on the 1997 film of the same name) adapts the story of The Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia (understudy Taylor Quick) who may have escaped the execution of her family, the Romanovs, in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1918. Years later, we meet a young girl, Anya (again played by Ms. Quick) who is suffering from amnesia and who bears a strong resemblance to Anastasia, the missing granddaughter of the Dowager Empress (Joy Franz). The young Anya wants to find a trace of her family whom she slightly remembers. She places her trust in two supposed con men, Vlad (Edward Staudenmayer) and Dmitry (Jake Levy) who want to gain some monetary value hopefully in the young woman’s likeness to the missing young woman.
Yes, this production is very pretty and glamourous on the outside. Peggy Hickey’s choreography is slickly polished. Linda Cho’s costume designs are exquisite to behold for all the fabric colours, textures and styles. Aaron Rhyne’s projection designs are stunning to see. From my seat, yes, the projections are an absolute feast for the eyes. This morning, as I watched Global News, Ms. Quick and Mr. Levy were on the show to promote it for the holiday season. Even Mr. Levy commented on the fact that the projectuals are stunning for audiences to see.
But something is missing in this ‘Anastasia’. Projectuals do not make a story memorable. There’s no definitive substance lying underneath this gorgeous exterior.
The show is billed as a grand, intriguing, mysterious love story, but that wasn’t coming through to me because the sights and looks were overpowering. I was also hoping that Director Darko Tresnjak would have manoeuvred some element of a ‘foreigner’ appeal to the speech patterns and the dialogue of the characters. Instead, there appeared to be a North American way about this production that didn’t whisk me away as I hoped I would have been.
Mr. Flaherty’s music and Ms. Ahrens’ lyrics soar to the heights of the theatre especially in the choral numbers. The songs, though, are unmemorable. As I write this review, I can’t even remember the tune to anything I heard last night. There were a couple of moments where I felt as if I was watching ‘My Fair Lady’ when Dmitry and Vlad teach the young Anya all about becoming the princess Anastasia. Brad Greer as understudy General Gleb periodically comes across as Javert from ‘Les Miserables’ where he must ensure that right reigns no matter what. This connection took me out of the moment from the plot action.
There are some wonderful performances, however, which were memorable and made up for what is missing and lacking. Taylor Quick is a charming young heroine with a lovely singing voice. Jake Levy is a dashingly handsome Dmitry who becomes smitten with the young Anya. Countess Lily (Tari Kelly), lady in waiting to the Dowager Countess and Vlad (Mr. Staudenmayer) offer much comic relief in the show. Their eleven o’clock number in the second act, ‘The Countess and The Common Man’ brought a lasting, emotional applause for the first time in the show. Yet this comic relief also bordered dangerously on these two stealing the show and, for me, that didn’t sit well. The production is not named after them.
General Gleb (understudy Brad Greer) is a general for the Bolsheviks who now control Russia. Gleb announces that St Petersburg will now be named Leningrad and promises a bright future for all. Mr. Greer has an impressive vocal range, especially in his song ‘Still’. As the Dowager Empress, Joy Franz’s performance rang believably true for me especially in the opening moments of the show between she and the young Anastasia (an adorable Eloise Vaynshtok whose performance rang naturally true as well). For this opening moment in the palace, I believed that I was in a foreign country. I wish this belief was sustained consistently throughout the performance.
FINAL COMMENTS: This touring company is not disappointing by any means. There is lovely singing which does make for an entertaining afternoon or evening in the theatre. I just wish this ‘Anastasia’ was far more memorable than it is.
ANASTASIA
Runs to January 12, 2020 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria Street, Toronto. For further information, visit www.mirvish.com or call 1-416-872-1212.
Performance runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.
Photo courtesy of Evan Zimmerman, MurphyMade